It's never to early to teach your children wilderness survival skills. what if little Johnny gets lost on your next big hike? Or there is a mudslide and you're cut off from camp or each other (it has happened!)? Maybe you're not doing hard core stuff right now, but what about next summer? It's easy to read headlines and think "that could never happen to us", but you just never know. It's best to have a plan in case you are separated (we've taught our kids to stay in one place and signal for help), discuss it with all members of your group/family, and ensure everyone is carrying their own wilderness survival gear, and that they know how to use each item.
Also known as a bug-out bag, your wilderness survival kit should contain everything you need to survive for three days. This list is different from what an adult would carry and is targeted to children aged 4-8 since they are a) old enough to carry their own small backpack, b) not big enough to carry larger items such as a bivvy/Siltarp, and c) usually not mature enough to carry a knife or fire making kit (essentials in any survival kit). Add other items (such as Epipen, medications, fire making kit, knife) at your discretion. Note that thesignalling devices (whistle, mirror, and flashlight) are critical. If your child is quickly found, she won't have to use the other items!
- Marine Whistle on a lanyard: Get a high quality pealess marine whistle. A pealess whistle will work when wet and has no parts that can freeze together. Encourage your children to blast the whistle as loud as possible if they are lost or in trouble. Let them have some fun practicing (to make sure they know how to use it) then let them know it is for emergency use only. You may need earplugs for the practice session as high quality whistles are louder than 100 decibels!
- Signalling mirror: Teach your child how to use the mirror to signal for help and who/what the signal should be directed at (flash the mirror at helicopters, vehicles, signs of civilization such as fire lookouts or cabins; sweep the horizon if no signs of people). At night, use your headlamp and shine light on the mirror sweeping the light quickly across the mirror for a short flash and slowly for a long flash. The Universal distress signal is S.O.S. (3 dots, 3 dashes, 3 dots) and can be signalled with 3 short flashes, 3 long flashes, 3 short flashes. If you don't have a mirror, you could use your hand and a flashlight or the flashlight switch to make long and short flashes. Practice at home with your children to see what method works best! The SOS signal can also be made with stones on the ground by making 3 round pile of rocks, 3 dashes (horizontal line) and 3 more round piles of rocks.
- LED headlamp / flashlight - We prefer headlamps so the kids can be hands-free. Most models these days are LED which is great as the batteries last forever, but be sure to replace low batteries and carry replacements.
Princeton Tec BOT Headlamp - Water bottle and purification tablets: Teach your children how to use water purification tablets and attach a note/picture to the package. For example, a hand-drawn 1 tablet + 1 bottle of water makes it easy for a panicking child to understand. If the quantities are different, e.g. half a tablet per Nalgene bottle, break the tablets in half and draw a picture of 1/2 tablet + 1 bottle of water. I trust Potable Aqua products to purify my drinking water.
Trusty Nalgene bottles never leak! - Snacks: Make sure your child has a few high cal snacks such as protein bars or granola bars in her pack. Although you can survive a few days without food, a snack is comforting while you wait for help to arrive. Make sure it's something yummy that your child likes, but not something with a strong odor that may attract bears.
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